Fracturing Fluid Compositions Having Portland Cement Clinker and Methods of Use

ABSTRACT

Proppant compositions for hydraulic fracturing that include Portland cement clinker are provided. A cement clinker proppant composition for hydraulic fracturing may include Portland cement clinker and another proppant. Another cement clinker proppant composition for hydraulic fracturing may include resin-coated Portland cement clinker and another proppant. Methods of hydraulic fracturing using the cement clinker proppant compositions and manufacturing the cement clinker proppant compositions are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority from U.S.Non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/383,916 filed Apr. 15, 2019, andtitled “FRACTURING FLUID COMPOSITIONS HAVING PORTLAND CEMENT CLINKER ANDMETHODS OF USE,” a copy of which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety for purposes of United States patent practice.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to a hydraulic fracturingfluids for oil and gas wells. More specifically, embodiments of thedisclosure relate to a proppant for use in hydraulic fracturing.

Description of the Related Art

Hydraulic fracturing (also referred to as “fracking”) is used tostimulate production in hydrocarbon-containing formations by usingmaterials to break (“fracture”) a formation and release hydrocarbonssuch as oil and gas. After drilling a well, fracturing fluids, such aswater or chemicals, may be injected into the well to reach a sufficientpressure to fracture the formation. A fracturing fluid may containproppants to hold open fractures created in the formation. Someproppants, such as fracturing grade sand (referred to as “frac sand”),have been used in hydraulic fracturing for several decades. Theperformance of the proppants is defined by many parameters, includingstrengths, percentage of fines generated under pressure, shape of thegrains, size distribution, and mono- or multi-layer distribution.

SUMMARY

Existing proppants may lack an optimal combination of performance andcost. For example, synthetic ceramic beads and bauxite may be relativelygreater strength proppants but suffer from greater cost. Fracturinggrade sand (referred to as “frac sand”) may be considered a lesser costproppant with medium performance, but may suffer from availabilityproblems to meet demand.

Hydraulic fracturing techniques have been developed to improve fractureconductivity and increase production rates. Such techniques includeinjection of alternate sequences of proppant-laden fluids withproppant-free fluids, or using thermally or hydrolytically degradableparticles in combination with traditional proppants. The problem withthe latter approach is that the degradable particles do not generallyhave sufficient strength for functioning as a proppant. In addition, thedegradation rates are not easily controllable.

Additional techniques include multi-stage fracturing using divertingagents such as polylactic acid (PLA). Diverting agents allow fortemporary sealing off a fractured zone, so that the fracturing fluid canbe diverted to a different zone to continue fracturing withoutinterruption. However, when the well is put back on production, theinitiation of fluid production is often delayed due to the time it takesfor the diverting agent to degrade.

In view of these problems, there is a need for a proppant that is ofrelatively greater strength as compared to existing proppants and thatis readily available and amenable to resin coating. There is also a needa relatively great strength and degradable proppant that can withstandoverburden pressures like existing proppants but also be degraded whendesired. There is also a need for diverting agents that degraderelatively quickly, including “on-demand,” compared to existingdiverting agents.

Cement clinker is produced during the production of cement in a cementkiln, typically operating at temperatures around 1450° C. to 1600° C.from raw materials such as lime, sand, alumina, and iron oxide. Aftercooling, the cement clinker may contain a mixture a powder, irregularlyshaped chunks, and spherical balls. The spherical particles of thecement clinker may be at or less than a No. 4 mesh size (about 4.76millimeters). To produce usable cement, the cement clinker is mixed withgrinding aids (such as gypsum) and anti-flash setting agents and groundto a desired particle size.

When exposed to water, Portland cement clinker does not behave likePortland cement and does not set into a cohesive mass similar to groundPortland cement. The granules of the cement clinker retain their shapeeven after hydration without forming a cohesive mass. The cement clinkermay be soluble in acids to form water-soluble calcium salts afterreaction.

In one embodiment, a method of hydraulic fracturing a subterraneanformation is provided. The method includes injecting a hydraulic fluidinto a subterranean formation, the hydraulic fluid including a proppantcomposition. The proppant composition includes a first proppantincluding Portland cement clinker and a second proppant selected fromthe group consisting of frac sand, bauxite proppant, ceramic proppant,and polymer proppant.

In some embodiments, the method includes injecting an acid into thesubterranean formation and contacting the acid with the Portland cementclinker such that the acid dissolves the Portland cement clinker tocreate conductivity pathways in a plurality of fractures in thesubterranean formation. In some embodiments, the Portland cement clinkeris coated with a resin. In some embodiments, the resin includes aphenol-formaldehyde resin. In some embodiments, the Portland cementclinker includes ASTM Type I Portland cement clinker. In someembodiments, the Portland cement clinker has a sieve cut of 20/40,16/20, or 40/70. In some embodiments, the Portland cement clinkerincludes API Class G Portland Cement clinker. In some embodiments, thefrac sand includes resin-coated frac sand, the bauxite proppant includesresin-coated bauxite proppant, the ceramic proppant includesresin-coated ceramic proppant, and the polymer proppant includesresin-coated polymer proppant.

In another embodiment, a proppant composition for use in hydraulicfracturing is provided. The proppant composition includes a firstproppant including Portland cement clinker and a second proppantselected from the group consisting of frac sand, bauxite proppant,ceramic proppant, and polymer proppant.

In some embodiments, the Portland cement clinker is coated with a resin.In some embodiments, the resin includes a phenol-formaldehyde resin. Insome embodiments, the Portland cement clinker includes ASTM Type IPortland cement clinker. In some embodiments, the Portland cementclinker has a sieve cut of 20/40, 16/20, or 40/70. In some embodiments,the Portland cement clinker includes API Class G Portland Cementclinker.

In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a proppant compositionfor use in hydraulic fracturing is provided. The method includes heatingPortland cement clinker in a mixer to a temperature of at least 370° F.,and adding a resin to the Portland cement clinker to form aclinker-resin mixture. The method further includes mixing theclinker-resin mixture for a mixing time period, adding a curing agent tothe clinker-resin mixture, and curing the resin for a curing time periodto produce resin-coated Portland cement clinker.

In some embodiments, the method includes mixing the resin-coatedPortland cement clinker with a proppant selected from the groupconsisting of a frac sand, a bauxite proppant, a ceramic proppant, and apolymer proppant. In some embodiments, the resin includes aphenol-formaldehyde resin. In some embodiments, the curing agentincludes hexamethylenetetramine. In some embodiments, the Portlandcement clinker includes ASTM Type I Portland cement clinker. In someembodiments, the Portland cement clinker has a sieve cut of 20/40. Insome embodiments, the mixing time period includes at least 3 minutes. Insome embodiments, the curing time period includes at least 3 minutes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts various microscopic images of Portland cement clinkerparticles at different sieve sizes, a conventional frac sand, andresin-coated Portland cement clinker in accordance with an embodiment ofthe disclosure;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are schematic diagrams of the use of Portlandcement clinker with another proppant to form increased conductivitypathways in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for hydraulic fracturing using aPortland cement clinker proppant composition to form increasedconductivity pathways in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of thedisclosure. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the illustratedembodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

As used in the disclosure, the term “cement clinker” or “Portland cementclinker” refers to a substance distinct from cement and formed duringthe manufacture of Portland cement during the cement kiln stage. As usedin the disclosure, “cement clinker” or “Portland cement clinker” refersto non-hydraulic, non-cementiceous unground Portland cement clinkerparticles. As used in the disclosure, “cement clinker” or “Portlandcement clinker” does not include conventional cement that is ground upto promote its reactivity with water and other components (for example,gypsum) to form set cement. As used in the disclosure, the “size” of acement clinker refers to the size (for example, diameter for generallyspherical particles) of the non-hydraulic, non-cementiceous ungroundparticles of the cement clinker.

Embodiments of the disclosure include proppant compositions that includePortland cement clinker. In some embodiments, a cement clinker proppantcomposition for hydraulic fracturing includes Portland cement clinkerand another proppant. In some embodiments, a cement clinker proppantcomposition for hydraulic fracturing includes resin-coated Portlandcement clinker and another proppant. In some embodiments, a proppant forhydraulic fracturing consists of Portland cement clinker. In someembodiments, a proppant for hydraulic fracturing consists ofresin-coated Portland cement clinker.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate embodiments of thedisclosure. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art thatthe techniques and compositions disclosed in the example which followsrepresents techniques and compositions discovered to function well inthe practice of the disclosure, and thus can be considered to constitutemodes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should inlight of the present disclosure appreciate that many changes can be madein the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a likeor a similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure.

Example Portland cement clinker proppant compositions were prepared andtested according to the techniques described in the disclosure. AmericanSociety for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Type I Portland cement clinkerand American Petroleum Institute (API) Class G raw cement clinker wereobtained from a cement company. The raw Portland cement clinker wassieved to obtain 16/20 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles (that is,cement clinker particles having a sieve cut of 16/20 such that theparticles have a size range of about 1.19 millimeters (mm) to about0.841 mm), 20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles (that is, cementclinker particles having a sieve cut of 20/40 such that the particleshave a size range of about 0.841 mm to about 0.420 mm), and 40/70 ASTMType I cement clinker particles (that is, cement clinker particleshaving a sieve cut of 40/70 such that the particles have a size range ofabout 0.420 mm to about 0.210 mm), and 40/70 API Class G cement clinkerparticles. Example cement clinker proppant compositions having uncoatedPortland cement clinker and resin-coated Portland cement clinkerparticles were prepared according to the techniques described infra.

Treatment with Hydration Accelerator

20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles were hot rolled in a calciumchloride (CaCl₂) solution at about 150° F. for 24 hours by using asuspension of 200 grams of 20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles in0.3% calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution. The cement clinker-calciumchloride suspension was cooled, decanted, and rinsed several times withfresh water until the supernatant showed a diminishment in perceivedturbidity. The resulting solid was dried in an oven at a temperature ofabout 150° F. for 24 hours.

Resin Coating Procedure

An example resin-coated cement clinker composition was prepared bycoating 150 grams of 20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles with 6.3grams (g) of Plenco Novolac Resin #14542 manufactured by Plenco PlasticsEngineering Company of Sheboygan, Wis., USA. 150 grams of the cementclinker particles were mixed using an overhead mixer at about 600revolutions-per-minute (rpms) and heated to about 370° F. in a 250milliliters (ml) beaker wrapped in heating tape. Once the uncoatedcement clinker particles reached the target temperature of about 370°F., 6.3 grams (g) of the Novolac resin was added to the uncoated cementclinker particles and the mixing rate was increased to about 2,200 rpms.The example proppant composition was mixed for an additional threeminutes (min) or until all of the Novolac resin melted onto the clinkersuch that the resin was perceived to be a uniform and complete coatingof the clinker. Next, 0.92 grams of hexamethylenetetramine curing agentwas added to the resin-coated cement clinker particles. The resin wasallowed to cure for 3 minutes before removing from the heat source.

The crush strength of each example cement clinker proppant compositionwas tested using a Forney Strength tester equipped with a 250,000 poundforce (lbf) load cell. Table 1 depicts the results of the crush strengthtesting at various pressures (in pounds per square inch (psi)), with theFinal Weight (Wt) referring to the amount of crushed fines that wentthrough a No. 40 mesh size (0.420 millimeters) sieve:

TABLE 1 CRUSH STRENGTH TESTING RESULTS FOR CEMENT CLINKER PROPPANTCOMPOSITIONS Cement Clinker Initial Final Percent Proppant Mesh StressWt Wt Crushed Size/Label (psi) (g) (g) (%) 16/20 ASTM Type I 1000 3617.2797 48.0 2000 34.1757 19.8308 58.0 4000 34.1065 23.2238 68.1 20/40ASTM Type I 1000 33.2993 3.1103 9.3 2000 33.2397 4.4869 13.5 400034.6332 6.9045 20.0 CaCl₂ Treated 20/40 1000 34.7243 7.4804 21.5 ASTMType I 2000 34.6094 10.6508 30.8 4000 34.2995 14.5207 42.3 Resin-coated20/40 1000 33.4863 0.6817 2.0 ASTM Type I 2000 35.0609 1.201 3.4 400033.5294 2.9618 8.8 40/70 ASTM Type I 1000 33.8216 5.3878 16.0 200032.1359 8.4126 26.2 4000 35.3271 12.6276 35.7 40/70 API Class G 100033.8149 7.9651 23.6 2000 31.8024 12.2713 38.6 4000 32.7788 15.1503 46.2

The results in Table 1 show that the cement clinker proppantcompositions exhibited compressive strengths and fine particle amountsin the ranges useful for fracturing operations. The cement clinkerproppant compositions having Portland cement clinker treated withcalcium chloride exhibited greater brittleness than then untreatedPortland cement clinker. The as-produced Portland cement clinker maythus be more load bearing than the Portland cement clinker hydrated withcalcium chloride. The cement clinker proppant compositions havingresin-coated cement clinker exhibited increased crush strength and alsoshowed a significant reduction in the percentage of fines generated(that is, the percentage of clinker particles that were crushed togenerate smaller particles. The results in Table 1 show thatresin-coated or uncoated Portland cement clinker may be suitable in asproppants in zones where the overburden pressures are relatively small,such as at shallower well depths.

FIG. 1 depicts various microscopic images of cement clinker particles atdifferent mesh sizes, a conventional frac sand, and resin-coatedclinker. FIG. 1 depicts the following microscopic images: a picture 100of 20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles; a picture 102 ofresin-coated 20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker particles; a picture 104of 20/40 frac sand; a picture 106 of 40/70 ASTM Type I cement clinkerparticles; and a picture 108 of 40/70 API Class G cement clinkerparticles. As shown in the images in FIG. 1, the 20/40 frac sand isrelatively more spherical than the 40/70 ASTM Type I cement clinkerparticles which may affect the crush strength results shown in Table 1.As also shown by images 100 and 102 in FIG. 1, coating the 20/40 ASTMType I cement clinker particles with resin results in cement clinkerparticles having smoother surfaces and rounder edges.

Portland Cement Clinker and Second Proppant Compositions

In some embodiments, Portland cement clinker may be combined withanother (that is, second) proppant to enable the formation of increasedconductivity pathways for fluid flow (that is, pathways having increasedconductivity as compared to induced fractures using conventionalproppants). FIGS. 2A-2C depict the use of Portland cement clinker with asecond proppant to form increased conductivity pathways in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2A depicts a proppantcomposition having cement clinker 200 and another proppant 202 placedinto a fracture 204. The proppant 202 may include sand (for example,“frac sand”), bauxite proppants, ceramic proppants, or polymerproppants.

After placement of the proppant composition in the fracture 204, thecement clinker 200 may be removed via an acid treatment in the well. Insome embodiments, the acid treatment may use mineral acids, such ashydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. In other embodiments, the acidtreatment may use organic acids, such as acetic acid, methanesulfonicacid (MSA), N,N-bis(carboxymethyl) glutamic acid (GLDA), iminodisuccinicacid, aspartic acid, fumaric acid, or malic acid. FIG. 2B depicts thefracture 204 after removal of the cement clinker 200 with theconventional proppant 202 remaining in the fracture 204.

After removal of the cement clinker, the spaces created after removal ofthe cement clinker may form increased conductivity pathways between theconventional proppant 202 in the fracture 204. FIG. 2C depicts increasedconductivity pathways 206 formed in the fracture 204 by the removal ofthe cement clinker 200. The increased conductivity pathways 206 mayenable fluid flow through the fracture and increase recovery of fluidfrom the well after fracturing.

In some embodiments, a proppant composition includes untreated Portlandcement clinker and a proppant. As used in the disclosure, the term“untreated” cement clinker refers to cement clinker as obtained from acement kiln and that is not introduced to or treated with a chemical(for example, an alkali, acid, or salt) after removal from the kiln. ThePortland cement clinker may be ASTM Type I cement clinker or API Class Graw cement clinker.

In some embodiments, the Portland cement clinker may be sieved to obtaina size range of cement clinker particles defined by a specific sievecut. For example, in some embodiments, the cement clinker may be thefollowing sizes: 16/20 Portland cement clinker, 20/40 Portland cementclinker, or 40/70 Portland cement clinker. In some embodiments, thecement clinker may be 16/20 ASTM Type I cement clinker, 20/40 ASTM TypeI cement clinker, 40/70 ASTM Type I cement clinker, or 40/70 API Class Gcement clinker particles.

In some embodiments, a proppant composition includes resin-coatedPortland cement clinker and a proppant. The Portland cement clinker maybe ASTM Type I cement clinker or API Class G cement clinker. In someembodiments, the resin-coated Portland cement clinker may 20/40 Portlandcement clinker. In some embodiments, the cement clinker may be 20/40ASTM Type I cement clinker.

In some embodiments, the Portland cement clinker may be coated with aphenol-formaldehyde resin (that is, Novolac) resin. The resin coatingthe Portland cement clinker may be fully cured or partially cured (thatis, a curing degree less than 100% but greater than 20%). In someembodiments, the Portland cement clinker may be mixed in a mixer at aspeed of at least 600 rpms and heated to a temperature of at least 370°F. The resin may be added to the mixer during mixing to form a cementclinker-resin mixture, and the mixing rate may be increased to at least2,200 rpms. The cement clinker-resin mixture may be mixed until all ofthe resin has melted onto the cement clinker particles such that theresin is perceived to be a uniform and complete coating of the clinker.In some embodiments, the cement clinker-resin mixture may be mixed forat least 3 minutes. After the all of the resin has melted onto thecement clinker particles, a curing agent may be added to the cementclinker-resin mixture. In some embodiments, the curing agent ishexamethylenetetramine. In some embodiments, the curing agent may beallowed to cure for at least 3 minutes to produce the resin-coatedPortland cement clinker for use in the proppant composition described inthe disclosure.

The cement clinker proppant composition may include various types ofsecond proppants. In some embodiments, the second proppant may be sand(for example, “frac sand,” including white sand and brown sand), bauxiteproppants, ceramic proppants, or polymer proppants. The second proppantmay include resin-coated version of these proppants (for example,resin-coated sand, resin-coated bauxite proppants, resin-coated ceramicproppants, or resin-coated polymer proppants). Such polymer proppantsmay include nylon. In some embodiments, the cement clinker proppantcomposition consists of Portland cement clinker and a second proppant.In some embodiments, the cement clinker proppant composition consists ofresin-coated Portland cement clinker and a second proppant.

The cement clinker proppant compositions may be used in a hydraulicfracturing operation to hold open fractures created in the formationafter inducement of the fractures and create increased conductivitypathways in the fractures. FIG. 3 depicts a process 300 for hydraulicfracturing by using a cement clinker proppant composition to formincreased conductivity pathways in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure. Initially, a cement clinker proppant composition may beprepared or obtained (block 302). The cement clinker proppantcomposition may include untreated Portland cement clinker and anotherproppant, or resin-coated Portland cement clinker and another proppant.Next, a hydraulic fracturing fluid having the cement clinker proppantcomposition may be injected into a subterranean formation via one ormore wells using known fracturing techniques (block 304). For example,the hydraulic fracturing fluid may include water and other components,such as polymers, crosslinkers, fluid loss additives, flow backadditives, surfactants, clay stabilizers, and gel breakers. In otherembodiments, a treatment fluid containing the cement clinker proppantcomposition may be injected into the subterranean formation afterinjection of a hydraulic fracturing fluid that does not include thecement clinker proppant composition.

After injection, the cement clinker proppant composition may penetratefractures in the subterranean formation. Next, an acid may be injectedinto one or more wells to contact with the cement clinker proppantcomposition in the fractures (block 306). In some embodiments, the acidmay be allowed to contact the cement clinker proppant composition for atime period sufficient to enable the cement clinker to dissolve aftercontact with the acid. As discussed in the disclosure, increasedconductivity pathways may be formed in the fractures by the dissolutionof the cement clinker by the acid (block 308). Hydrocarbons may beproduced via the increased conductivity pathways formed in the fracture(block 310).

Portland Cement Clinker Proppant

In some embodiments, a proppant consists of Portland cement clinker anddoes not include any other proppant components. In some embodiments, thePortland cement clinker consists of ASTM Type I cement clinker or APIClass G cement clinker. In some embodiments, the proppant consists of20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker. In some embodiments, the proppantconsists of 16/20 ASTM Type I cement clinker. In some embodiments, theproppant consists of 40/70 ASTM Type I cement clinker. In someembodiments, the proppant consists of 40/70 API Class G cement clinker.

In some embodiments, the proppant consists of untreated Portland cementclinker. As used in the disclosure, the term “untreated” cement clinkerrefers to cement clinker as obtained from a cement kiln (that is, “raw”cement clinker) and that is not introduced to or treated with a chemical(for example, an alkali, acid, or salt) after removal from the kiln.

In some embodiments, the proppant consists of resin-coated Portlandcement clinker. The cement clinker particles may be coated with aphenol-formaldehyde resin (that is, Novolac) resin according to thetechniques described in the disclosure. The resin-coated Portland cementclinker may be ASTM Type I cement clinker or API Class G cement clinker.In some embodiments, the resin-coated cement clinker may 20/40 cementclinker particles. In some embodiments, the cement clinker may be 20/40ASTM Type I cement clinker particles.

A Portland cement clinker may be used in a hydraulic fracturingoperation to hold open fractures created in the formation afterinducement of the fractures and create increased conductivity pathwaysin the fractures. A hydraulic fracturing fluid that includes thePortland cement clinker may be injected into a subterranean formationvia one or more wells using known fracturing techniques. For example,the hydraulic fracturing fluid may include water and other components,such as polymers, crosslinkers, fluid loss additives, flow backadditives, surfactants, clay stabilizers, and gel breakers. In otherembodiments, a treatment fluid containing the Portland cement clinkermay be injected into the subterranean formation after injection of ahydraulic fracturing fluid that does not include the Portland cementclinker. Hydrocarbons may be produced through fractures induced in thesubterranean formation via the fracturing operation and held open by thePortland cement clinker proppant.

In other embodiments, the Portland cement clinker may be used as adiverting agent in hydraulic fracturing operations. In such embodiments,a diverting agent for use in hydraulic fracturing may include Portlandcement clinker or resin-coated Portland cement clinker. For example, adiverting agent may consist of Portland cement clinker or resin-coatedPortland cement clinker. In such embodiments, the diverting agent may beintroduced into a well to plug or seal portions of the well and enablefluid to flow past or be diverted to other sections of the well. Afterintroduction of the cement clinker, the cement clinker diverting agentmay be degraded by introducing an acid to contact the Portland cementclinker. After contact with the acid, the Portland cement clinkerdiverting agent may dissolve and reopen the portions of the well. Insome embodiments, the diverting agent consists of ASTM Type I cementclinker or API Class G cement clinker. In some embodiments, thediverting agent consists of 20/40 ASTM Type I cement clinker. In someembodiments, the diverting agent of 16/20 ASTM Type I cement clinker. Insome embodiments, the diverting agent consists of 40/70 ASTM Type Icement clinker. In some embodiments, the diverting agent consists of40/70 API Class G cement clinker.

Ranges may be expressed in the disclosure as from about one particularvalue to about another particular value or both. When such a range isexpressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from theone particular value to the other particular value or both, along withall combinations within said range.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed asillustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the general manner of carrying out the embodiments described inthe disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms shown anddescribed in the disclosure are to be taken as examples of embodiments.Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated anddescribed in the disclosure, parts and processes may be reversed oromitted, and certain features may be utilized independently, all aswould be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit ofthis description. Changes may be made in the elements described in thedisclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosureas described in the following claims. Headings used in the disclosureare for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used tolimit the scope of the description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A proppant composition for use in hydraulicfracturing, the proppant composition comprising: a first proppantcomprising Portland cement clinker; and a second proppant selected fromthe group consisting of frac sand, bauxite proppant, ceramic proppant,and polymer proppant.
 2. The proppant composition of claim 1, whereinthe Portland cement clinker is coated with a resin.
 3. The proppantcomposition of claim 2, wherein the resin comprises aphenol-formaldehyde resin.
 4. The proppant composition of claim 1,wherein the Portland cement clinker comprises ASTM Type I Portlandcement clinker.
 5. The proppant composition of claim 1, wherein thePortland cement clinker has a sieve cut of 20/40, 16/20, or 40/70. 6.The proppant composition of claim 1, wherein the Portland cement clinkercomprises API Class G Portland Cement clinker.